Renovation is Hard! – Top 5 tips

Starting a renovation, while you are living in the space, is really hard. A few of my brave clients underwent a major renovation of their homes while they were still living there. Of course, the reward is huge! They kept telling me “I love my kitchen” or “I love my bathroom”. It is a very satisfying feeling when you can create your own “favorite” space. Our surroundings will surely impact our daily lives more than you realize. So, here are my 5 top tips if you are thinking of taking the courageous step towards renovation!

1. Setting your expectations for the process and timeline

No matter how much we try to prevent it, there will be dust. (Make sure you request to cover the return and supply vents before starting construction!) You may have to relocate some of your smaller appliances such as microwave and toaster to laundry room or other areas. You will not be able to cook too much and may need to eat out. You can certainly travel for part of your remodel if you have a trusted designer or contractor to oversee the process. Many of my clients have done so. With current technology we can communicate over the phone and/or Skype!

Speak about your project timeline in detail with your contractors. You may ask the contractor to provide a project schedule. You may review it every 1 to 2 weeks. It is also important to add some wiggle room for your schedule – both mentally and physically. Something will always come up when you are undertaking a major renovation!

2. Select and order materials with enough lead time

Sometimes clients say “I would like to start the remodel of my kitchen next month.” In this high tech era, you would think the renovation could be faster. Unfortunately not that fast! For example, the lead time of cabinetry (not even speaking about design) may be 3-6 weeks depending on your cabinet manufacturer. You would also want to give 2-3 weeks of lead time for most materials such as lighting, plumbing fixtures, and tiles including delivery. That will give time to correct any damages, which occur during delivery. Request contractors (or perform yourself) to inspect all materials for damages and colors long before the installation – preferably upon receipt of the materials.

3. Document!

To avoid uncomfortable miscommunications, I strongly recommend having detailed documentation. What is included in the contract for installation? Is the cost of material included? If so, what types of material? You may hire designers who can provide you and the contractors with a set of drawings such as floor plan, elevations, and details. So all of us are on the same page and fewer mistakes will happen.

4. Balance between now and later

Renovating your entire home at all once may be ideal, – get it done! Doing it one at time such as kitchen countertop may feel slightly easier and cost less than tackling the entire kitchen remodel. But there is a balance between cost and time effectiveness and inconvenience during the renovation. If you have two bathrooms, perhaps start with one of them first. So you will still have at least one working shower. The more inconvenient your life becomes, the more you will feel stressed during your remodel. If you are considering one room to remodel, I would recommend completing the entire room at once instead of remodeling one element at a time such as paint, countertop, and cabinetry. Not to mention that would take more time, also you may lose a complete vision. Do you want to select a countertop, which matches existing cabinet or new cabinet that you have not yet decided upon?

5. One step at time, enjoy the ride!

When you are looking at an entire project, it may be overwhelming. But everything can be decomposed to smaller tasks. We often try to reach a goal in full control and forget the fact that the process should be fun as well as the outcome!